Oh, I so did not need this news with an interview to deal with today.

I went to refill my lamotrigine (generic Lamictal), and the Teva manufacturer's one is no longer available(!!) I've been taking it for over a decade with good success. I am wondering if anyone has had success with another manufacturer, especially if the Teva worked well for you. Please don't bother telling me it doesn't matter, because on this med, my experience has been that it does. My pharmacy is stocking Cipla manufacturer on their shelves, but are willing to order another if their supplier supplies it. "Meh" is my opinion on Cipla. Passable.

(Aurobindo was a straight up disaster. Never again on that one.)

Lamotrigine is the backbone of my meds! The one constant in a sea of variables... This has me very nervous.

I know everyone's different, but I'm really hoping for some decent experiences.
Help! Anyone?

I think I've taken generic lamotrigine from at least three different manufacturers in the past. I never had any problems with any of them. I don't remember past manufacturers names. I even took name brand Lamictal years ago, before generic was available. That was fine.

Note: I have only taken 100 mg generic lamotrigine these past 8 years. Any more makes me hypomanic or even manic. When I took name brand Lamictal about 13 years ago, I took up to 300 mg and it made me so manic that I was hospitalized. At that time, I took it with Abilify. These last 8 years I've been on all of the meds in my signature, plus a few others in the past. At 100 mg generic, I have no side effects. At the higher dose of Lamictal brand, besides getting manic, I had mild cognitive impairment and sweating, though the sweating could have been related to my mania.

My current 100 mg lamotrigine generic is from the manufacturer Zydus. It's a round white tablet. I recall a past generic pill having a similar shape (hexagon?) as the brand.

[Guiness187055]

Mine stopped carrying Teva too. Now it's unichem.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Idk what the manufacturer is at all lol it’s sll the same to me

[bizi]

sorry i don't know what my manufacturer is but it has changed several times different colored pills blue then pale pink/salmon color I take a lot.



Bird dancer,
Listen your mania could have been from the abilify.
that sent me manic.
I know we are all different.
bizi

[MickeyCheeky]

I don't have any advice to give, unfortunately, Innerzone. Just wanted to say that I've read your post and that I care. I'm so sorry you're struggling with this. I hope you'll be able to find an alternative. I'd suggest to talk to your Pdoc about this and see how it goes from there, if you haven't already. I'm so sorry, please don't give up. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Sending many hugs to you

[downandlonely]

I have no idea who the manufacturer of my lamictal is. If you think you might need the brand name, you can have your pdoc write a note on the prescription to specify that.

Wow, I just take what the pharmacy pans out to me. They always look the same so I never questioned its origins.

Originally Posted by downandlonely

I have no idea who the manufacturer of my lamictal is. If you think you might need the brand name, you can have your pdoc write a note on the prescription to specify that.

Yeah, I was actually thinking about this when I woke up (well, not RIGHT away, lol!). When I initially started, I used the brand name Lamictal, figuring I'd see what it was supposed to do, and go from there. Teva was BY FAR the one I'd had most often after that, with only very, very occasional out of stock situations. I think I've had Taro, Cipla and the dreaded Aurobindo (it was obvious to anyone I went downhill fast on that one -- TG I was able to get off it as soon as we realized what was happening).

(I'm kind of surprised there aren't more people who've experienced such a difference. Reading on epilepsy boards, it's a pretty big topic. Both between name and generic, and Teva compared to other generics.)

Anyhow, yeah, I should check out the insurance situation.... if/how much for the name brand, because that worked well for me too. It may come to that. I really, really can't afford anything big going down -- working on changing jobs, living without any outside support, there's no room for error. My providers are the only ones that even know I have BP. I'd face big stigma (I could go into why, but it feels too revealing anonymity-wise for some reason).

Just when I've had a nice solid stretch of stability, THIS wrench gets thrown. Grrr.

[hopeless2015]

I never what I'm going to get. My refills are 90 days, I've actually had them give me 3 different separated by cotton in the same container, I haven't noticed any difference, luckily

My bottle says CVS pharmacy... but I do believe that people are very med sensitive. I’m med sensitive where I can feel the slightest effects....but manufacturers...that has never been considered. I usually can tell about a stronger or weaker one...but pharmacies usually deal with one supplier. Maybe asking would get answers, but my pill program dictates which one.

Originally Posted by Innerzone

Yeah, I was actually thinking about this when I woke up (well, not RIGHT away, lol!). When I initially started, I used the brand name Lamictal, figuring I'd see what it was supposed to do, and go from there. Teva was BY FAR the one I'd had most often after that, with only very, very occasional out of stock situations. I think I've had Taro, Cipla and the dreaded Aurobindo (it was obvious to anyone I went downhill fast on that one -- TG I was able to get off it as soon as we realized what was happening).

(I'm kind of surprised there aren't more people who've experienced such a difference. Reading on epilepsy boards, it's a pretty big topic. Both between name and generic, and Teva compared to other generics.)

Anyhow, yeah, I should check out the insurance situation.... if/how much for the name brand, because that worked well for me too. It may come to that. I really, really can't afford anything big going down -- working on changing jobs, living without any outside support, there's no room for error. My providers are the only ones that even know I have BP. I'd face big stigma (I could go into why, but it feels too revealing anonymity-wise for some reason).

Just when I've had a nice solid stretch of stability, THIS wrench gets thrown. Grrr.

If your dr tells the pharmacy that the brand name is “medically necessary,” they won’t have a problem filling the brand name for you.

Have you checked the brand name manufacturer’s website?
GSKForYou | Patient Assistance Program

I don’t have time to go through it, but it’s worth a look. You may be eligible for a discount. I know I’ve gotten latuda and seroquel xr discounts in the past from other manufacturers.

Thanks, everyone. I tried looking up some stuff. It's so confusing, I guess I'll just go with my pharmacy's substitute for now and see how it goes. If it doesn't go so well, I'll look into the brand name option. Well, see if it IS an option, lol.

Still, it sucks. Hate when a good thing goes away. Remember the Zicam nasal gel for colds? (Not allergies) Worked great, so of course they don't make it anymore...)